Yesterday, the Beverly Hills Hotel was host to a standing room only crowd of approximately 250 members of the press, for the press conferencing announcing the rematch scheduled for January 21st between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao. The fight will be held at the Thomas & Mack Arena in conjunction with the Wynn Las Vegas Resort, along with a fight undercard that Top Rank promoter, Bob Arum, promised would be a “terrific card, from top to bottom.”
Manny Pacquiao is coming off a recent victory in a tune-up fight two months ago, his only fight since losing a unanimous decision to Erik Morales last March 19th.
Erik Morales, on the other hand, after vaulting to the top of the pound for pound rankings after his victory over Manny Pacquiao, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Zahir Raheem. The fight was Morales’ first fight in the 135 pound lightweight division, but the rematch with Pacquiao marks his return to the Super Featherweight division.
In introducing the fighters, Bob Arum spoke of the tremendous popularity enjoyed by each fighter in their, respective, native country. Said Arum, “Manny Pacquiao is easily the most popular person in the Phillipines…not only the most popular athlete or boxer in the Phillinpines but the most popular person.” Arum added, “Every Filipino in the world knows who Manny Pacquiao is.”
In speaking about Erik Morales, Bob Arum said, “Erik Morales is the most popular fighter in Mexico.” Arum added, “We all remember that first fight with the flags of the Phillipines and of Mexico waving while the fight went on.”
Bob Arum added that tickets are scheduled to go on sale today, November 16th, adding “We want to make this fight available to the fans,” adding that ticket prices would start at $50 and plenty of good seats would also be available at $100 and top out at $500 for ringside seats. In speaking about the Pay Per View audience, Arum said “Fans that pay $44.95 deserve to see a terrific card, from top to bottom.”
The promoter for Manny Pacquiao, Gary Shaw, took the podium to speak about the fight. In a lighter moment, Shaw, responsed to a gaffe made by Arum in which Arum mistakenly stated that Steve Wynn, owner of Wynn Las Vegas Resort, had spent 2.7 million in the construction of the new mega-resort, only to be corrected that it, in fact, cost $2.7 billion to build the resort. Shaw poked fun in reference to the Arum mistake, “If any of you wants to know how rich Bob Arum is, just think, millions, billions, it’s all the same…our side, on the other hand, we’re dealing in Pesos.”
In speaking about the rematch, Shaw stated, “Styles make fights.” He added, “For Manny Pacquiao, he took a loss against Erik Morales…for whatever the reason for the loss, a loss is a loss.”
Shaw further added, “For someone who is an idol in his country to go back with a loss doesn’t taste so good.” He added, “So, Manny knows what he has to do in the ring and we will make sure that things that happened last time that were distracting to Manny will not be distracting this time.”
Shaw continued, “We’re not making any excuses but I promise you this time the only thing that Manny Pacquiao will have to think about is Erik Morales. Everything else will be taken care of…if you’re looking for me, I’ll be sleeping on the side of the bed by Manny…I want to make sure he’s tucked in and make sure we don’t have 126 Filipinos sleeping in his room.”
Shaw concluded, “It’s going to be a different fight for Manny Pacquiao, a much different fight…I think that Erik knows he’s in for a fight.”
Next to take the podium was Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. Although the theme from the Pacquiao camp seemed to be that they were not making any excuses for the loss in the first fight, Roach began with “I think myself and Manny, we both made a mistake last time. We took Erik a little bit lightly. We thought he was all done and out for his last payday.” Roach in stating how the next fight will differ said “We’re going to fight a much better fight this time, I know we’re capable of doing that.”
Following Roach, Manny Pacquiao took the podium and addressed the crowd. Pacquiao was brief and after thanking the promoters and his fans he said “This is my big opportunity for revenge. I will do my best to win this fight and get revenge.”
Next up was Fernando Beltran, the manager and co-promoter of Erik Morales. Beltran touched upon the excuses that were made by the Pacquiao camp for the loss in the first fight, particularly addressing the issue of the gloves. Pacquiao prefers Reyes boxing gloves, a reputed punchers glove, while Morales prefers Winning boxing gloves, which are said to offer more protection to the fighter’s hands. By contractual obligation, in the first fight, both fighters used Winning gloves. However, in this fight, it is believed that Pacquiao will use the Reyes gloves while Morales will, again, use the Winning gloves.
Beltran in response to the glove issue said, “From what I know, they build gloves to protect the hands. The gloves are not going to be a problem. Erik Morales told me we can fight with gloves or without gloves.”
Arum, in preparing to introduce Erik Morales, again took his place at the podium and told of his all-time favorite fighters that he has promoted. In chronological order Arum said that Muhammad Ali, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, George Foreman, in his comeback career, and Erik Morales were his all-time favorites.
About Morales, Arum said he respected Morales for his “loyalty, a guy who has your back, always looking out for you.” Arum added, “I know character…some people have it, some people don’t…some people have a little of it, some people have a lot of it…Erik Morales is all character. He is a warrior and he is courageous.”
On that note Arum introduced Erik Morales to a standing applause, including, by my own observation, the very interested Beverly Hills Hotel busboys who were clearly cheering on their fellow countryman, Morales.
Erik Morales, appearing serious and confident, took the podium. In a terse response to the earlier comment by Freddie Roach, Morales said, “Let me tell you one thing, I have never, ever, been in the ring for money. Never has money been the issue. I don’t know how they could think that in the first fight I was only there for the payday.”
Morales concluded the press conference with some strong advice directed at Manny Pacquiao, saying “Go into the ring and fight…don’t make excuses…win or lose, fight, and if you lose, lose like a man.”
